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San Andreas
A masterful tale of maritime suspense. It is the darkest days of WW II and the San Andreas, a Red Cross medical ship carrying the wounded, is on a perilous voyage from Halifax to Aberdeen. She comes under siege by German war planes.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
78 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Alistair MacLean
344 books1,205 followersAlistair Stuart MacLean (Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair MacGill-Eain), the son of a Scots Minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, he joined the Royal Navy; two and a half years spent aboard a cruiser were to give him the background for HMS Ulysses, his first novel, the outstanding documentary novel on the war at sea. After the war he gained an English Honours degree at Glasgow University, and became a schoolmaster. In 1983, he was awarded a D. Litt. from the same university.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
Maclean is the author of twenty-nine world bestsellers and recognised as an outstanding writer in his own genre. Many of his titles have been adapted for film - The Guns of the Navarone, The Satan Bug, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare and Bear Island are among the most famous.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
November 13, 2010
I had this book as a kid--probably read it a thousand times growing up. I'm thinking I got it as a present or even bought it at one of those Weekly Reader/Scholastic book fairs (remember those?) Must have gotten it around 11 or 12 years old? Found it today at Goodwill and didn't hesitate to pick it up. The cover is in better shape than what mine looked like ( I think my guinea pig chewed some of it when I left it too close to the cage), but I could swear the spine has the same rubbed out spots as the one I had. And where that version ended up I have no idea. I vaguely remember the story as a Liberty Ship working as a floating hospital ship gets the tar blown out of it in the beginning, and there's sabotage a plenty, plus some interesting descriptions of decapitations and German spies. Looking forward to regressing as I read. We will see if it holds up to the memory.
So after reading it, it actually still holds up! The only confusion I had as an adult reader was trying to figure out who everyone was, as far as minor or major characters. MacLean uses everyone's last name, and spoiler wise--the main and bad guys character last names are almost identical--as well as his inability to follow basic speech etiquette. Case in point, a character describes the action, a quote is given, someone responds in the same paragraph and then a new paragraph starts with the same person finishing their thought. Probably where I learned all my bad habits from. Good thriller though, and a solid page turner.
So after reading it, it actually still holds up! The only confusion I had as an adult reader was trying to figure out who everyone was, as far as minor or major characters. MacLean uses everyone's last name, and spoiler wise--the main and bad guys character last names are almost identical--as well as his inability to follow basic speech etiquette. Case in point, a character describes the action, a quote is given, someone responds in the same paragraph and then a new paragraph starts with the same person finishing their thought. Probably where I learned all my bad habits from. Good thriller though, and a solid page turner.
November 11, 2012
This is the first novel that i read..
I remember being at a cousin's place with nothing to do.. and found this book..
I am really glad that i did, because it opened the world of Alistair Maclean to me. Maclean's world is full of invincible heroes, fawning heroines, Sly Villians and a lot of double crossing and at times, triple crossing. Maclean is an entertainer to the core. You never stop being amazed at the plotting. The book starts running at break neck speed and you are out of breath as you try to catch up.
The Plot opens with Sabotage onboard a Hospital Ship called San Andreas, so named after a fault line in California. The vessel is being chased by Germans, who are privy to the secret of its precious quarry. How the Cat and Mouse game unfolds is where Maclean shines. Most recommended.
I remember being at a cousin's place with nothing to do.. and found this book..
I am really glad that i did, because it opened the world of Alistair Maclean to me. Maclean's world is full of invincible heroes, fawning heroines, Sly Villians and a lot of double crossing and at times, triple crossing. Maclean is an entertainer to the core. You never stop being amazed at the plotting. The book starts running at break neck speed and you are out of breath as you try to catch up.
The Plot opens with Sabotage onboard a Hospital Ship called San Andreas, so named after a fault line in California. The vessel is being chased by Germans, who are privy to the secret of its precious quarry. How the Cat and Mouse game unfolds is where Maclean shines. Most recommended.
December 5, 2022
Sometimes you just can't beat the classics. Alastair MacLean shares with Jack Higgins an ability to write characters who should be villains as complex humans who sometimes turn out to be among the most riveting characters in the plot.
August 26, 2018
Sabotage precedes German bombing of the British hospital ship HMHS San Andreas and her cruiser escort. With the deck officers dead or incapacitated, it falls on bosun Archie McKinnon to thwart the Germans and bring his ship safely to port. Not quite as good as The Guns of Navarone but still a fast-paced WWII naval story.
Several blog posts about the Northern Isles and recent archaeological finds on Orkney reminded me of the Shetland theme running through San Andreas. Casual searching brought to light a book review pointing out three purported errors, so it was time to reread.
1) Reference to Pakistan before it exists: On pp. 23 and 168, one of the doctors is referred to as of Pakistani descent, with the second reference to him also as a highly educated Indian with perhaps little love for the British Raj. The references are, therefore, clearly to ethnicity, not nationality.
2) Reference to Lemp sinking the Athenia, when his culpability was not established until after the war: Documentary proof was available only postwar but rumors among submariners, of which McKinnon had been one, no doubt abounded by this post-1942 event, based on information from captured Germans or whispered intelligence.
3) Reference to bubbles signaling the ballast being blown: on pp. 146 and 231, two different German subs submerge, as indicated by bubbles, described on p. 146 as water bubbles. Air bubbles might be forced out as the ballast tanks were flooded but not water. So this seems to be an error.
As well, I noted a few points:
* on p. 33, McKinnon looks to his right at the Henkels to starboard, to his right at the escort cruiser on portside, and back to his right at the Henkels. Would turn left to see cruiser.
* on p. 41 ¶3: misplaced end quote.
* on p. 178, McKinnon is quoted as having felt the Argos crew was in the clear but on pp. 109-10, no such absolution.
Also, on previous read, never noticed that McKinnon had been hospitalized on Malta but recently read Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege 1940-43, so the reference jumped out.
Several blog posts about the Northern Isles and recent archaeological finds on Orkney reminded me of the Shetland theme running through San Andreas. Casual searching brought to light a book review pointing out three purported errors, so it was time to reread.
1) Reference to Pakistan before it exists: On pp. 23 and 168, one of the doctors is referred to as of Pakistani descent, with the second reference to him also as a highly educated Indian with perhaps little love for the British Raj. The references are, therefore, clearly to ethnicity, not nationality.
2) Reference to Lemp sinking the Athenia, when his culpability was not established until after the war: Documentary proof was available only postwar but rumors among submariners, of which McKinnon had been one, no doubt abounded by this post-1942 event, based on information from captured Germans or whispered intelligence.
3) Reference to bubbles signaling the ballast being blown: on pp. 146 and 231, two different German subs submerge, as indicated by bubbles, described on p. 146 as water bubbles. Air bubbles might be forced out as the ballast tanks were flooded but not water. So this seems to be an error.
As well, I noted a few points:
* on p. 33, McKinnon looks to his right at the Henkels to starboard, to his right at the escort cruiser on portside, and back to his right at the Henkels. Would turn left to see cruiser.
* on p. 41 ¶3: misplaced end quote.
* on p. 178, McKinnon is quoted as having felt the Argos crew was in the clear but on pp. 109-10, no such absolution.
Also, on previous read, never noticed that McKinnon had been hospitalized on Malta but recently read Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege 1940-43, so the reference jumped out.
January 11, 2025
Un romanzo ambientato durante la II Guerra Mondiale nelle gelide acque dei mari artici, dove la nave ospedale "San Andreas" di ritorno dalla Russia dove ha imbarcato feriti e ammalati per riportarli in patria, è fatta oggetto di strani attentati dei quali sfugge la motivazione ai militari che guidano la nave verso i porti inglesi. Il mistero verrà risolto nelle ultime righe e solo allora il lettore potrà scrollarsi di dosso l'atmosfera di paura e di angustia claustrofobica che pesa durante la lettura per il dramma vissuto a bordo della nave. La figura di Archie MacChinnon, instancabile e arguto nostromo che si mette a investigare sul caso, senza perdere di vista i suoi doveri di marinaio e di soldato, si erge sugli altri protagonisti di questo fosco dramma marinaro grazie anche alla sua ironia capace rasserenare gli animi nei momenti più bui.
October 10, 2025
Did British merchant mariners in the war really use the n word this often? Who can say
August 9, 2016
Not one of his greatest tales, in the mid-80's he surely had done this thing before. Not terrible either, but pick any of his better outings (there must be close to 30) before this one.
November 6, 2025
The rickety hospital ship San Andreas is treating and transporting wounded soldiers across the North Sea when an odd disaster strikes; an act of sabotage knocks out the lights that the ship uses to illuminate its red cross designations, seemingly to cripple but not destroy the ship and keep German warplanes and U-boats from realizing it is a hospital ship. Sure enough, the ship is spotted by a dreaded German Condor plane, its position is likely communicated to a slew of German torpedo bombers and the U-boat wolf pack hunting the North Sea, and the ship is attacked.
From that point, we get a disaster, adventure, mystery (we need to find this saboteur), and survival narrative as the San Andreas makes its way across the North Sea.
There are too many characters for a guy like me to keep track of, so it read a little confusing at times since I didn't take notes, and it compounds when he doesn't use full names for his characters all at the same time. MacLean shifts back and forth from first name or rank or surname while these folks are conversing (the plot is mostly dialogue-driven, not action-driven), and it isn't apparent who the subject of the comment is.
Verdict: DNF. All told, "San Andres" (1984) is really just a boring and forgettable WWII military fiction. Quit on page 230 (of 346).
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
From that point, we get a disaster, adventure, mystery (we need to find this saboteur), and survival narrative as the San Andreas makes its way across the North Sea.
There are too many characters for a guy like me to keep track of, so it read a little confusing at times since I didn't take notes, and it compounds when he doesn't use full names for his characters all at the same time. MacLean shifts back and forth from first name or rank or surname while these folks are conversing (the plot is mostly dialogue-driven, not action-driven), and it isn't apparent who the subject of the comment is.
Verdict: DNF. All told, "San Andres" (1984) is really just a boring and forgettable WWII military fiction. Quit on page 230 (of 346).
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG
June 26, 2020
Just finished reading San Andreas by Alistair Maclean. This being my first ever war-themed book, especially my first WW2 inspired novel, and I'm completely awestruck. Both my parents have been asking to read books by Alistair Maclean, but I always avoided it, god knows why. A few days back, I wanted to read a fast-paced book and I saw a copy of San Andreas lying around, picked it up and finished it in literally 3 days. It is a classic tale of war at sea!
Technically the actual story begins from the very beginning, but the intensity starts building up from 2nd chapter tops. Being a war inspired novel, it just doesn't bet boring. Yes, I have always been interested in war stories, anything and everything to do with history, so ya, this one actually made my day. What really caught my attention was the character of Archie Mckinnon. Yes, he becomes the protagonist unknowingly. The author introduced him after quite a while, that's what makes him all the more fascinating, his character actually becomes the 'anchor' to the story, I know it sounds strange, but it is true. But then there are other fascinating characters as well, we meet Captain Bowen, Patterson, Lieutenant Ulbricht, Nurse Janet, oh, I loved them.
Technically the actual story begins from the very beginning, but the intensity starts building up from 2nd chapter tops. Being a war inspired novel, it just doesn't bet boring. Yes, I have always been interested in war stories, anything and everything to do with history, so ya, this one actually made my day. What really caught my attention was the character of Archie Mckinnon. Yes, he becomes the protagonist unknowingly. The author introduced him after quite a while, that's what makes him all the more fascinating, his character actually becomes the 'anchor' to the story, I know it sounds strange, but it is true. But then there are other fascinating characters as well, we meet Captain Bowen, Patterson, Lieutenant Ulbricht, Nurse Janet, oh, I loved them.
Action packed, you become a part of San Andreas. Being a hospital ship, the tension of being under attack can be witnessed throughout. With a number of unusual plot twists and turns you, it gives you an adrenalin rush. Another point I really liked was the background stories that kept popping up throughout the novel. It actually helped in deciphering the saboteur(s). It isn't a lengthy novel that takes a lot of your time, it is a 290 page book which great story, well written and crisp, I'll say 'navigation'. It is bloody gripping and intense. I guess this is my first ‘war’ book I have read. Definitely going to recommend this.
April 10, 2016
I haven't thought about Alistair MacLean since I was a kid and thumbed through a few of my Dad's books. As I recall, Ice Station Zebra and Breakheart Pass. I picked this one up at a used bookstore on a whim.
It's a compelling setting and plot, but the dialogue is melodramatic and utterly ridiculous. The ending is also too abrupt and unsatisfying. MacClean's knowledge of seafaring is convincing, and I liked the little history lesson in the prologue, but this story would have been so much better with believable interactions between the characters.
It's a compelling setting and plot, but the dialogue is melodramatic and utterly ridiculous. The ending is also too abrupt and unsatisfying. MacClean's knowledge of seafaring is convincing, and I liked the little history lesson in the prologue, but this story would have been so much better with believable interactions between the characters.
July 29, 2013
This book was a disappointment. I like MacLean but this is far from his best. My biggest problem is that the characters don't match the story. Here we have a very dramatic life and death war story and the characters are all acting, or at least talking, like they are in an old Andy Hardy movie. The characters suck all the suspense out of the story. The ending was also bland and generally unsatisfying. The book is worth about 1.5 stars.
June 16, 2025
I did enjoy rereading this book - Alistair MacLean is one of my favourite authors... Lots of action and suspense in this story - very enjoyable
May 28, 2018
Good book, although it sort of leaves you hanging about the fate of some of the characters in the end.
May 1, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it doesn't have anything ground breaking or unique but it weaves a great tale of tension and conspiracy with action and realistic intriguing characters all within the confines of a hospital ship during World War II. The story is relatively fast paced with quieter moments as it builds to the next revelation before reaching the gripping finale. There are a few places where there seems to be a little too much descriptive/background detail but this often becomes relevant as the story progresses (so make note of these!) and these quickly get taken over by the story again so don't really impede the enjoyment of the story that much. I think this is actually my favourite MacLean book so far.
June 28, 2021
Was hoping for a WW2 adventure, got a WW2 adventure, what's not to love?
July 18, 2023
Another solid maritime thriller from Alister MacLean. Although the emphasis in the first half was a little too skewed towards maritime matters than the thriller side of things.
July 5, 2014
Everyone else who rated this book was right on the money. 3.51.
I will round up because the author was so just and fair to the Enemy side. War is Hell and this isn't a book that labels a whole nation of people as bad or good.
There are bad guys and good guys, on both sides of the conflict, and I was grateful to the author for emphasizing that fact. He even makes a plug for the heroism of the U-Boat Commanders in his Introduction. If you read nothing else of this book, the Introduction was awesome.
My mother was shot at and could have been killed by The Allies, so I'm sensitive to the fact that there is no Black or White, but shades of grey, and the USA was responsible for its share of atrocities in WWII.
Back to this book: Great WWII war novel and kept my interest. Main criticism: A bit slow-moving at times.
Loved the main character, the Bosun McKinnon, a true hero. He was the perfect balance of intelligence, hit, shrewdness, competence and was still very human.
Really annoyed by the two women, Margaret Morrison and Janet Magnusson. They were everything that women should NOT be in a crisis, whiny, opinionated (and with the WRONG opinions), critical, and useless to do anything but nursing the sick (which was their JOBS), and complaining and bitching. If they would have just shut up, they could have tripled their value as human beings and as fictional characters.
Great story, very moving, and the ending was satisfying.
Still, could have used a little more humor or light touches, and more romance.
This is totally a guy's book.
I will round up because the author was so just and fair to the Enemy side. War is Hell and this isn't a book that labels a whole nation of people as bad or good.
There are bad guys and good guys, on both sides of the conflict, and I was grateful to the author for emphasizing that fact. He even makes a plug for the heroism of the U-Boat Commanders in his Introduction. If you read nothing else of this book, the Introduction was awesome.
My mother was shot at and could have been killed by The Allies, so I'm sensitive to the fact that there is no Black or White, but shades of grey, and the USA was responsible for its share of atrocities in WWII.
Back to this book: Great WWII war novel and kept my interest. Main criticism: A bit slow-moving at times.
Loved the main character, the Bosun McKinnon, a true hero. He was the perfect balance of intelligence, hit, shrewdness, competence and was still very human.
Really annoyed by the two women, Margaret Morrison and Janet Magnusson. They were everything that women should NOT be in a crisis, whiny, opinionated (and with the WRONG opinions), critical, and useless to do anything but nursing the sick (which was their JOBS), and complaining and bitching. If they would have just shut up, they could have tripled their value as human beings and as fictional characters.
Great story, very moving, and the ending was satisfying.
Still, could have used a little more humor or light touches, and more romance.
This is totally a guy's book.
March 17, 2015
В юности зачитывался книгами Алистера Маклина.
Попалась под руку аудиоверсия этой книги, в переводе на русском, решил вспомнить детство.
Однако бросил, прослушав примерно 80%.
Произведения Алистера Маклина, хотя и являются художественными, имеют ценность как исторические, когда речь не про факты а про быт и поведение людей того времени, военный флот тех лет.
Но по своему литературному качеству книга мне показалась совершенно любительской.
Возможно, причина в переводе.
А также в ужасном качестве озвучки. Чтец - Алексей Ковалев, как я понимаю, любитель. У него достаточно приятный голос, и он вообще не делает ошибок при чтении отдельных слов, что сейчас редкость. Но явно не вникает в смысл прочитанного, поэтому не делает смысловых пауз, зато делает массу пауз в совсем неожиданных местах - как я понял, перед сложными словами, или чтобы перевести дыхание.
Обычно, книги, написанные на английском, читаю в оригинале. Чтобы не возникало подобных ситуаций, когда сомневаешься, дело в оригинальном тексте, или в том, что это "Мойша напел".
Но ведь в детстве я тоже читал в переводе.. И вряд ли кому-то пришла в голову идея перевести еще раз, эти книги были переведены на русский еще в Советском Союзе.
Видимо, тогда больше увлекала именно военно-морская, романтическая составляющая книги.
Попалась под руку аудиоверсия этой книги, в переводе на русском, решил вспомнить детство.
Однако бросил, прослушав примерно 80%.
Произведения Алистера Маклина, хотя и являются художественными, имеют ценность как исторические, когда речь не про факты а про быт и поведение людей того времени, военный флот тех лет.
Но по своему литературному качеству книга мне показалась совершенно любительской.
Возможно, причина в переводе.
А также в ужасном качестве озвучки. Чтец - Алексей Ковалев, как я понимаю, любитель. У него достаточно приятный голос, и он вообще не делает ошибок при чтении отдельных слов, что сейчас редкость. Но явно не вникает в смысл прочитанного, поэтому не делает смысловых пауз, зато делает массу пауз в совсем неожиданных местах - как я понял, перед сложными словами, или чтобы перевести дыхание.
Обычно, книги, написанные на английском, читаю в оригинале. Чтобы не возникало подобных ситуаций, когда сомневаешься, дело в оригинальном тексте, или в том, что это "Мойша напел".
Но ведь в детстве я тоже читал в переводе.. И вряд ли кому-то пришла в голову идея перевести еще раз, эти книги были переведены на русский еще в Советском Союзе.
Видимо, тогда больше увлекала именно военно-морская, романтическая составляющая книги.
September 30, 2015
San Andreas, may be one of Alistair Maclean’s lesser known novels, but it is equally as good as his best. This is a well written novel using the author’s knowledge of boats, the Second World War and weather. While other books by Maclean like: The Guns of Navarone and HMS Ulysses, may be seen as an instant draw-card to the reader who likes an adventure- thriller, a plot based on the plight of a hospital ship in hostile waters might not be perceived to have the same appeal. Such a subject matter might be considered as being as shaky as the San Andreas fault-line as far as marketing is concerned, for a hospital ship during the Second World War was neutral and somewhat boring as it carried no weapons. Yet this was no ordinary hospital ship and as time has shown was never likely to founder with Maclean at the helm.
The story largely centres around Mr McKinnon, who reluctantly ends up in charge as the ship encounters saboteurs on board, and the enemy in the sea and air. While this may be a slow moving novel, the ride is far from calm waters and the author’s skill to captivate the reader will keep the reader intrigued and eager to learn what happened next. This is a novel I can recommend for those who enjoy war stories and adventure.
The story largely centres around Mr McKinnon, who reluctantly ends up in charge as the ship encounters saboteurs on board, and the enemy in the sea and air. While this may be a slow moving novel, the ride is far from calm waters and the author’s skill to captivate the reader will keep the reader intrigued and eager to learn what happened next. This is a novel I can recommend for those who enjoy war stories and adventure.
February 11, 2024
Alistair MacLean is an author I admire immensely, he is up there with the likes of Christie, Fleming and Wells. He is someone who's works have always given me a sense of comfort and enjoyability that I rarely find in a lot of authors.
So it really broke my heart when I had read "Athabasca" a novel he wrote in the mid 80s on a sabotage attempt in the Alaskan oil field.
Even though it's a quite well paced thriller it's language and style of prose felt very dated when you consider the 1980s wordscape of literature, when the likes of Robin Cooke, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy are literally churning out high octane fast paced, modern and sleek page turners which are filled with style and charisma.
And then you read "Athabasca" a thriller / adventure novel set in the modern times (the 80s) felt like an (with its language and style ) old manuscript from the 50s and 60s.
The characters and their demeanors even felt dated to the then modern standards making it feel like as if a guy wearing a jeans and a t shirt is saying, "I thank thee, for thy affection, milady" and it doesn't make sense.
With these ramblings you can understand that my last venture with MacLean did leave a very bad taste in my mouth. To the extend I felt pretty guilty about it since I did enjoy Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare .
Now coming back to "San Andreas", this book in all respects should've given me the same taste in my mouth as Athabasca, but altered it completely is the fact that this time the novel is set in the second world war and my mind literally just went into that headspace that it goes when it reads a pre - 60s / post 1920s adventure or suspense novel which just made the reading experience so enjoyable.
Europe is in the midst of war, the bad Germans are just the around corner and a hospital ship in the middle of all this just gets sabotaged. The Classic MacLean high stakes drama, filled with charming characters and breathtaking description of naval and aerial combat. The suspense and suspicions are high as we can sense a traitor amidst the crew.
The protagonist of the story, McKinnon is a classic MacLean hero who is flawed, skilled in his job and always follows his instincts. He may seem a little unorthodox to some but in the end he just silences them with his wit, intelligence and charm. Easily can see Gregory Peck or Clint Eastwood in their younger days play this role.
In terms of the story telling style along with the typical MacLean tropes, I could see a little influence of Agatha Christie in this work of fiction, where instead of finding the crook in a mansion we look for him in a hospital war ship. There are times when McKinnon does don the hat of Poirot in the way he uses conversation and reasoning to find clues inorder to track the culprit or culprits.
All in all its a very good novel, but needs to be read with a pinch of salt, as it feels really really tame compared to Navarone or Eagles. But I must admit in this novel his characters do seem to have more depth and insight than what I had seen in Athabasca or some of his other works.Alistair MacLean is an author I admire immensely, he is up there with the likes of Christie, Fleming and Wells. He is someone who's works have always given me a sense of comfort and enjoyability that I rarely find in a lot of authors.
So it really broke my heart when I had read "Athabasca" a novel he wrote in the mid 80s on a sabotage attempt in the Alaskan oil field.
Even though it's a quite well paced thriller it's language and style of prose felt very dated when you consider the 1980s wordscape of literature, when the likes of Robin Cooke, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy are literally churning out high octane fast paced, modern and sleek page turners which are filled with style and charisma.
And then you read "Athabasca" a thriller / adventure novel set in the modern times (the 80s) but felt like a book, with its language and style, rather an old manuscript from the 50s and 60s.
The characters and their demeanors even felt dated to the then modern standards making it feel like as if a guy wearing a jeans and a t shirt is saying, "I thank thee, for thy affection, milady" and it doesn't make sense.
With these ramblings you can understand that my last venture with MacLean did leave a very bad taste in my mouth. To the extend I felt pretty guilty about it since I did enjoy Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare .
Now coming back to "San Andreas", this book in all respects should've given me the same taste in my mouth as Athabasca, but altered it completely is the fact that this time the novel is set in the second world war and my mind literally just went into that headspace that it goes when it reads a pre - 60s adventure or suspense novel which just made the reading experience so enjoyable.
Europe is in the midst of war, the bad Germans are just the around corner and a hospital ship in the middle of all this just gets sabotaged. The Classic MacLean high stakes drama, filled with charming characters and breathtaking description of naval and aerial combat. The suspense and suspicions are high as we can sense a traitor amidst the crew.
The protagonist of the story, McKinnon is a classic MacLean hero who is flawed, skilled in his job and always follows his instincts. He may seem a little unorthodox to some but in the end he just silences them with his wit, intelligence and charm. Easily can see Gregory Peck or Clint Eastwood in their younger days play this role.
In terms of the story telling style along with the typical MacLean tropes, I could see a little influence of Agatha Christie in this work of fiction, where instead of finding the crook in a mansion we look for him in a hospital war ship. There are times when McKinnon does don the hat of Poirot in the way he uses conversation and reasoning to find clues inorder to track the culprit or culprits.
All in all its a very good novel, but needs to be read with a pinch of salt, as it feels really really tame compared to Navarone or Eagles. But I must admit in this novel his characters do seem to have more depth and insight than what I had seen in Athabasca or some of his other works.
So it really broke my heart when I had read "Athabasca" a novel he wrote in the mid 80s on a sabotage attempt in the Alaskan oil field.
Even though it's a quite well paced thriller it's language and style of prose felt very dated when you consider the 1980s wordscape of literature, when the likes of Robin Cooke, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy are literally churning out high octane fast paced, modern and sleek page turners which are filled with style and charisma.
And then you read "Athabasca" a thriller / adventure novel set in the modern times (the 80s) felt like an (with its language and style ) old manuscript from the 50s and 60s.
The characters and their demeanors even felt dated to the then modern standards making it feel like as if a guy wearing a jeans and a t shirt is saying, "I thank thee, for thy affection, milady" and it doesn't make sense.
With these ramblings you can understand that my last venture with MacLean did leave a very bad taste in my mouth. To the extend I felt pretty guilty about it since I did enjoy Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare .
Now coming back to "San Andreas", this book in all respects should've given me the same taste in my mouth as Athabasca, but altered it completely is the fact that this time the novel is set in the second world war and my mind literally just went into that headspace that it goes when it reads a pre - 60s / post 1920s adventure or suspense novel which just made the reading experience so enjoyable.
Europe is in the midst of war, the bad Germans are just the around corner and a hospital ship in the middle of all this just gets sabotaged. The Classic MacLean high stakes drama, filled with charming characters and breathtaking description of naval and aerial combat. The suspense and suspicions are high as we can sense a traitor amidst the crew.
The protagonist of the story, McKinnon is a classic MacLean hero who is flawed, skilled in his job and always follows his instincts. He may seem a little unorthodox to some but in the end he just silences them with his wit, intelligence and charm. Easily can see Gregory Peck or Clint Eastwood in their younger days play this role.
In terms of the story telling style along with the typical MacLean tropes, I could see a little influence of Agatha Christie in this work of fiction, where instead of finding the crook in a mansion we look for him in a hospital war ship. There are times when McKinnon does don the hat of Poirot in the way he uses conversation and reasoning to find clues inorder to track the culprit or culprits.
All in all its a very good novel, but needs to be read with a pinch of salt, as it feels really really tame compared to Navarone or Eagles. But I must admit in this novel his characters do seem to have more depth and insight than what I had seen in Athabasca or some of his other works.Alistair MacLean is an author I admire immensely, he is up there with the likes of Christie, Fleming and Wells. He is someone who's works have always given me a sense of comfort and enjoyability that I rarely find in a lot of authors.
So it really broke my heart when I had read "Athabasca" a novel he wrote in the mid 80s on a sabotage attempt in the Alaskan oil field.
Even though it's a quite well paced thriller it's language and style of prose felt very dated when you consider the 1980s wordscape of literature, when the likes of Robin Cooke, John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer and Tom Clancy are literally churning out high octane fast paced, modern and sleek page turners which are filled with style and charisma.
And then you read "Athabasca" a thriller / adventure novel set in the modern times (the 80s) but felt like a book, with its language and style, rather an old manuscript from the 50s and 60s.
The characters and their demeanors even felt dated to the then modern standards making it feel like as if a guy wearing a jeans and a t shirt is saying, "I thank thee, for thy affection, milady" and it doesn't make sense.
With these ramblings you can understand that my last venture with MacLean did leave a very bad taste in my mouth. To the extend I felt pretty guilty about it since I did enjoy Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare .
Now coming back to "San Andreas", this book in all respects should've given me the same taste in my mouth as Athabasca, but altered it completely is the fact that this time the novel is set in the second world war and my mind literally just went into that headspace that it goes when it reads a pre - 60s adventure or suspense novel which just made the reading experience so enjoyable.
Europe is in the midst of war, the bad Germans are just the around corner and a hospital ship in the middle of all this just gets sabotaged. The Classic MacLean high stakes drama, filled with charming characters and breathtaking description of naval and aerial combat. The suspense and suspicions are high as we can sense a traitor amidst the crew.
The protagonist of the story, McKinnon is a classic MacLean hero who is flawed, skilled in his job and always follows his instincts. He may seem a little unorthodox to some but in the end he just silences them with his wit, intelligence and charm. Easily can see Gregory Peck or Clint Eastwood in their younger days play this role.
In terms of the story telling style along with the typical MacLean tropes, I could see a little influence of Agatha Christie in this work of fiction, where instead of finding the crook in a mansion we look for him in a hospital war ship. There are times when McKinnon does don the hat of Poirot in the way he uses conversation and reasoning to find clues inorder to track the culprit or culprits.
All in all its a very good novel, but needs to be read with a pinch of salt, as it feels really really tame compared to Navarone or Eagles. But I must admit in this novel his characters do seem to have more depth and insight than what I had seen in Athabasca or some of his other works.
December 22, 2025
Review again
I love this book, plain and simple. I like the characters, the dynamic, the descriptions, the setting, and above all, Archie McKinnon is awesome. And I love how Alistair MacLean can paint back story with like two lines. Or a single conversation. And it's just brilliant.
I love this book, plain and simple. I like the characters, the dynamic, the descriptions, the setting, and above all, Archie McKinnon is awesome. And I love how Alistair MacLean can paint back story with like two lines. Or a single conversation. And it's just brilliant.
February 2, 2011
Another rollicking fast read full of exciting action scenes and a tense plot filled with suspense and a number of surprises. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, eager to see whether the San Andreas would make it to the safety of British waters.
June 23, 2014
The San Andreas is a hospital ship traveling throughU-boat patrolled Norwegian waters when its lights go out in the darkness.British Danger and betrayal abound in this tale of World War II. None of the violence of more recent war novels which makes it an enjoyable read suitable for any audience.
January 16, 2017
A re-read but a good one - raced through this overnight. A MacLean seafaring tale is nothing to turn your nose up at. Lacks the pathos of HMS Ulysses but I don't think I'm emotionally ready to revisit that.
September 4, 2017
Surprisingly entertaining. It's old school Clancy. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a bit confusing to keep all the characters straight. Other than that, it was a great read and quite enjoyable.
Read
May 29, 2007bagus
January 13, 2010
Another formulaic WWII novel, but MacLean's is a more tightly organized and subtle narrative than Follett's.
February 20, 2011
Well it's Alistair McLean, the nautical fiction equivalent of Chic-Lit. But it's a good entertaining read nonetheless and a thoroughly enjoyable passtime. Especially if you're a boaty geek like me.
July 5, 2011
Half way... Desperately bland. But the last third picked up and just about managed to salvage itself.
January 15, 2013
Good book with a solid plot, but the descriptions of the boat/sea got a little boring, especially for someone who isn't really interested in that sort of thing.
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